Glossary of Astrological Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
AFFLICTED: Unfavorable planetary aspect: Squares, Oppositions and
Quincunxes.
AIR SIGNS: Signs possessing the qualities of
the element Air: intellect, thought process etc. The Air signs
are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. ANERETIC DEGREE: The final degree of a sign (29th).
Also refered to as the degree of fate.
ANGLES: The lines of the chart wheel which lie
at 0 degrees (Ascendent), 90 degrees (I.C.), 180 degrees (Descendent),
and 270 degrees (M.C.).
These major points represent Cardinal Qualities.
AQUARIAN AGE: 2000 year period influenced by
the qualities of Aquarius starting approximately at the new millenium.
ARC: An angular measurement between two celestial
planets or points. Any part of a circle, measured around it's circumference.
ASCENDANT: The Rising Sign. The degree at which
the Zodiac rests over the horizon of the birthplace at the time
of birth. The Ascendant
represents the persona and image to the world.
ASPECT: The angular
distance, calculated in specific number of degrees of the chart
wheel, between two celestial points or planets.
It shows
the nature of the relationship between planets.
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B
BIRTHCHART: A diagram
showing the exact positioning of the planets in the signs at the
moment of birth. C
COMBUST: When a planet is very near the Sun
in the birthchart. It is theorized that the planet loses some of
its
force. CARDINAL SIGNS: Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
Represents initiative.
COMPOSITE CHART: Two individual charts which
are merged to form
one. It shows the relationship between two individuals.
CONFIGURATION:
An Aspect which has three or more planets.
CONJUNCTION: Two or
more planets sitting next to each other. A conjunction gives great
strength to the energies of the interacting
planets.
CUSP: A line dividing the twelve houses. The
midway point between two signs.
CYCLE: The time it takes a planet
or point to make one complete
revolution in the heavens.
D
DECANATE: The division of each sign
into three equal parts of 10 degrees each.
DECLINATION: The distance
of a planet north or south of the celestial equater
DEGREE: 1/360
of a circle.
DESCENDANT: The opposite point from the Ascendant:
cusp of the 7th house. Describes one's interaction with another.
E EARTH SIGNS: Signs belonging to the element Earth
(practical etc.). Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.
ELEMENTS: Four-fold
division of the Zodiac: Fire, Earth, Air, Water.
Signs of the same element share qualities of that element.
EPHEMERIS:
Astrological almanac listing Zodiacal positions of the planets
and other Astronomical data.
EQUATOR: The imaginary line drawn
around the Earth, dividing it into the northern and southern hemispheres.
When this line is extended
into space, it is called the celestial equator.
EQUINOX: A time
of equal day and equal night occuring twice a year at the beginning
of Spring and Autumn.
F FEMININE SIGNS: The Earth and Water signs.
Feminine signs are refered to as negative and indicate passive
and receptive energy.
FIRE SIGNS: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Signs with the qualities of the element of Fire (Willfull, energetic,
etc.)
FIXED SIGNS: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
Fixed signs are stubborn.
G GEOCENTRIC: The convention that the Earth,
rather than the Sun
is at the center of the Solar System.
GRAND CROSS: Configuration
in which four planets form mutual squares. It creates a lot of
tension.
GRAND TRINE: When three planets meet each other
to form a triangle. This is a harmonious configuration.
GREAT YEAR:
The period when the pole makes a complete circle.
H HARD ASPECT:
Squares, oppositions and quincunxes. Aspects which create tension
and/or friction.
HOUSES: The celestial sphere as a 360 degree
circle is divided into twelve sections called houses. They are
numbered
counterclockwise
from the Ascendant (9:00 position). Each house represents certain
aspects of life.
I I.C.(Immum Coeli): One of the four major angles
of a birth chart. It is the beginning of the fourth house and is
a very personal
point in a chart.
J
Joys: Places in the zodiac where planets, being harmoniously located,
have the most beneficial effect. Rarely used in modern astrology.
According to William Lilly, the joys of the planets are: Saturn
joy in Libra; Jupiter joy in Sagittarius; Mars joy in Scorpio;
Sun joy in Leo; Venus joy in Taurus; Mercury joy in Virgo; Moon
joy in Cancer.
Judicial Astrology
Relates to the forecasting of principal events which will befall
a country and public conditions which will prevail.
Juno: The queen of the gods. An asteroid seen
by modern astrologers as significant.
Jupiter: The king of the gods, a planet symbolising
matters to do with the law, religion, authority, the higher mind
and
so on. Ruler
of Sagittarius
and Pisces. Exalted in Cancer. The greater benefic.
Jyotish: Indian (Vedic) astrology. This is based
on the sidereal zodiac, as opposed to the tropical zodiac favoured
by most contemporary
Western Astrology.
K
Key Words: Words that encapsulate the meaning
of an astrological factor. For example, Cancer: "I feel".
Kepler: Johann Kepler, born in Weil, Wurtemburg,
Germany on December 27, 1571 was a famous astrologer who became
the father of modern
astronomy.
Ketu: Name for the Dragon's Tail, in Indian Astrology.
Kite: A Grand Trine with one of the planets making
an opposition to a fourth planet which in turn makes sextile aspects
to
the two
others
of the Grand Trine.
L
Latitude (Celestial): Measurement of distance of any planet or
star north or south of the ecliptic. The Sun never has any latitude.
Latitude (Terrestrial): Degree of distance of any place north
or south of the Earth's equator.
Leo: This regal sign is the fifth sign of the zodiac. Ruled by
the Sun. The exaltation of Pluto. Leo's symbol is the lion.
Libra: The seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra is the sign most
concerned with relationships. Cardinal and Airy. Ruled by Venus.
The exaltation
of Saturn. Libra's symbol is the scales, or balance
Lights: Sun and Moon.
Lilith: The "Black Moon", a supposed
invisible satellite of the Earth, also an energy vortex in the
Sun-Moon-Earth system. There
is as well an asteroid called Lilith. Lilith, the Dark Goddess,
is a Hebrew name for Caput Algol, the Demon Star. In mythology,
Lilith was the first wife of Adam, formed like him from the earth,
rather than from his rib, like Eve.
Logarithms: Tables by which when a planet's motion
is known its position at a given time may be readily calculated.
Long Ascension
Signs of long ascension take longer to ascend than others. Cancer,
Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius. Long and short ascension
are reversed in the southern hemisphere.
Longitude
(Celestial): Measurement along the ecliptic in terms
of signs and degrees from the point of the vernal equinox (0° Aries).
The longitude of a planet in the 126th degree of the zodiac is
6° Leo.
Longitude (Terrestrial): Distance in degrees,
minutes and seconds of any place east or west of Greenwich, England.
Also measured
in hours, minutes and seconds.
Luna: The Moon. More about the Moon
.
Lunar Mansions: 27 traditional sectors (nakshatras)
of the zodiac, where the Moon spends her time on a day by day basis.
Each mansion,
of 13° 20'
duration, has a specific influence, especially if Moon, Sun, Ascendant,
or Ruling Planet are placed there. This system is mainly used today
in Indian (Vedic) astrology. There are also ancient Chinese, Arabic
and Renaissance systems, using 28 lunar mansions of 12° 51'
26" of arc.
Lunar Node: See Nodes
Lunation: A lunar period, measured from one place in the zodiac
until the Moon's return thereto. For example, the time taken by
the Moon
from one conjunction with the Sun until the next, 29 days,
12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds, is called a synodical lunation.
Lunation
is also used to describe different aspects of the Moon to the
Sun, thus accounting for her phases. The New Moon is also called
a Lunation.
A chart made for the moment the Moon conjoins the Sun is called
a Lunation Chart. M M.C.(Medium Coeli): One of four major points
in the birth chart and is at the top af the chart (beginning of
the tenth house. It
represents
public life and reputation.
MASCULINE SIGNS: Aries, Gemini, Leo,
Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius. Masculine signs are assertive
and self-assured.
MERIDIAN: The Meridian at Greenwich. The point
from which time and space is measured. It divides longtitude into
east and west.
MIDPOINTS: The midpoint between two planets or
angles and sometimes house cusps.
MUTABLE SIGNS: Gemini, Virgo,
Sagittarius and Pisces. Flexible
nature.
N NATAL: Birth. The natal chart refers to a chart
for the time of birth.
NODES: The north and south nodes of the
moon are those points on
the ecliptic where the moon crosses it going either north or south.
O OPPOSITION: An opposition is when planets are
exactly opposite each other in the chart wheel. Oppositions create
stress.
ORB: The space in the chart wheel measured in
degrees, between
planets and points, by which an aspect may vary from exactness
and still
remain effective.
P POLARITY: Opposite signs effect each other: each
sign has a relationship with its partner across the Zodiac.
PROGRESSION:
A method of advancing the planets and points of a natal chart to
a particular time after birth.
Q QUALITIES: Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable.
QUINCUNX
(INCONJUNCT): An arc of 150 degrees. An uneasy aspect
with karmic lessons.
QUINTILE: An aspect of 72 degrees. An easy
aspect representing
accomplishments.
R RETROGRADE: When a planet appears to be traveling
backwards from Earth's perspective. The energy of a retrograde
planet is less
assertive.
RULERSHIP: Different signs are "ruled" by
different planets and their influences can be affected by this
fact.
S SIDEREAL TIME: Time reckoned by the stars rather
than by the Sun.
SOLSTICE: When the Sun reaches its maximum declination.
This
occurs twice a year, at the beginning of Summer and Winter.
STELLIUM: A group of planets gathered in one
area of the Zodiac; sometimes, a multiple conjunction.
SUN-SIGN
ASTROLOGY: As seen in newspaper Astrology columns,
predictions for the day, month or year ahead on the basis
of Solar Charts.
SYNASTRY: Comparing natal charts to find
strengths and weaknesses in the area of compatability.
T TRANSIT:
A planet's movement through a sign or house.
U
Under the Sun's Beams: Within 17 degrees of the Sun. Any planet
here is weakened, though more so if combust (within 8 degrees 30
minutes). Not so important
in natal astrology.
Uranian Planets: Planets postulated to lie beyond
the orbit of Pluto.
Uranus: Formerly known as Herschel, after its
discoverer, this planet was not discovered until 1781. It has been
deemed to rule Aquarius.
It stands for unexpected disruptions and sudden catastrophes.
Esoterically,
it calls forth the genius in the character of the native. V VOID OF COURSE:
A term describing a planet that does not make a major aspect
before changing signs. It is primarily
wit respect
to the
Moon.
W
Water Element: One of the four astrological elements. A feminine
element, it stands for emotion, feeling, matters to do with
intuition
and so on. The other elements are, Fire, Air and Earth.
Water
Signs:Cancer (cardinal), Scorpio (fixed), Pisces (mutable)
X
There are no terms in Astrology beginning with X, save some
medical expressions used in Medical Astrology.
Y
Yod: A powerful aspect.
Youth (phase of):
The period of life from birth up to the first Saturn Return
. Z ZODIAC: From the Greek 'zodiakos', meaning
'circle of animals'. A band in the heavens divided into twelve
signs,
each containing
30
degrees of longtitude and acting as a barometer
for various human traits.
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